Carton dispensing machine

Abstract

A dispensing machine is used to dispense rectangularly shaped containers including milk cartons and the like, preferably of a size ranging from approximately one-half liter to approximately two liters or even larger. The machine can be used to dispense various products including juices, soft drinks, milk, candy and virtually any product that can be suitably contained in a square rectangular container. The machine has a vertical channel containing paddles where each paddle supports only some of the containers in the channel when the channel is filled with containers. Since the containers have flexible side walls, the paddles move simultaneously to gently lower the containers one space at a time when the machine is activated. Also, when the containers are in the vertical channel, the lowermost container is not subjected to the weight of all of the containers above it when the channel is filled with containers. This arrangement prevents containers in the vertical channel from being crushed by containers located above it. In a further embodiment, a dispensing machine has three sets of shelves, each set having a vertical channel with control means so that three different types of products can be dispensed from one machine.

Description

1. Field of InventionThis invention relates to a dispensing machine for dispensing rectangularly shaped containers with flexible side walls, said containers including milk cartons.2. Description of the Prior ArtIt has been desirable to dispense milk contained in milk cartons from vending machines for some time. The cartons have flexible side walls and are easily damaged. Milk cartons tend to have a much greater strength longitudinally than they do laterally. When a milk carton is lying on its side and is subjected to pressure from other milk cartons placed on top of it, the milk carton at the bottom can be seriously damaged. Further, if a milk carton falls through the air, it could also be subjected to serious damage upon landing. Still-further, consumers will not accept milk contained in a milk carton that has been damaged in some way even if the carton does not leak. In the parent application, applicant created a dispensing machine that will dispense fragile cylindrically shaped c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The cartons have flexible side walls and are easily damaged.

When a milk carton is lying on its side and is subjected to pressure from other milk cartons placed on top of it, the milk carton at the bottom can be seriously damaged.

Further, if a milk carton falls through the air, it could also be subjected to serious damage upon landing.

Still-further, consumers will not accept milk contained in a milk carton that has been damaged in some way even if the carton does not leak.

However, those previous machines would not dispense rectangularly shaped containers and would not dispense milk cartons.

Further, those machines described in the parent application can only dispense one type of beverage.

Further, large milk cartons of a size of approximately two liters or two quarts are much more difficult to dispense than smaller milk cartons.

The fact that milk cartons cannot be properly dispensed through dispensing machines has increased the selling price of milk as it is more expensive to sell milk over the counter than it is to sell it through a vending machine.

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